Year 3 - Greater attention to Mindfulness

As noted in the Year 2 overview, the concept of Mindfulness took on a greater importance. Year 3 took that theme and began to explore how to better utilize it AND begin measuring it. As you read the final report for Year 3, take note of how that concept continued to emerge and how 5HE and CURL made plans to measure it in Year 4. Additionally, CURL was not present in the residency sessions for Year 3 and 5HE took on more of the evaluation coordination. This is a key take away for those who wonder if they can “go it alone.” The answer is “yes, you can!” The report can be found here.

Key lessons for readers:

• Having noted that CURL as an external evaluator wasn’t present via in-person observations highlights the methods that 5HE needed to employ to get the work done. Key among the lessons – the need for 2 TAs in the room and the usefulness (and possible limitations) of using videotaped recordings of the sessions.

• Designing activity-based assessments – 5HE has taken an approach to evaluation that should be emulated. Namely, they have worked creatively with CURL to find ways to weave together activities in the program that also double as evaluation tools.

• Feedback loop and on to a new question – Year 3 resulted in a new “tool” the mindfulness tool. It should be no surprise to anyone that this co-created tool becomes the basis for both programming AND evaluation in Year 4. The feedback loop continues!